Review: T.C. Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6

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I hate audio interfaces. They take up your space, they break, their design is flawed. Still, you need one to record your stuff. So basically you need a box with inputs to plug your instruments in. Of course, you might need a lot of inputs or outputs. You might also need to route audio signals. Then you need to read a lot of manuals and learn how to use your device.

Forget that. The Konnekt 6 has one input: A TC electronics input that has awesome sound. The large volume knob is something I already love. Small interfaces don’t even have a volume knob for the master and even if they do it is located on the front side, making it hard to access and even harder to operate. Mixers provide better control; the Konnekt 6 has a similar layout while being small. The Konnekt is Firewire-based so you don’t need an external AC adapter.

A great thing is the dim button. It dims your outputs. No need to turn down the volume and to figure out the correct level again. Very handy indeed.

Sometimes you need to switch between different inputs. With the Konnekt 6 that’s a piece of cake. You have three scenes: Mic/Instrument, Instrument/Instrument and Stereo in. These setups use the same input and you can switch between them with the scene buttons.

The Konnekt 6 is sturdy and sexy. The volume knob glows with red light when you turn it up. The volume meter is accurate and functional. You can choose if you want to monitor the input, the pre and the post signals. The bottom of the Konnekt is covered with this funny foam that will keep the device in place and prevents scratches. Included in the box there is a separate AC adapter if your laptop would fail to provide the necessary voltage to power the Konnekt 6.

The software for Konnekt 6 is simple and great. You don’t really need it though because you can control almost everything from the device. There are a few cool things you can set up though, like sample rate, phantom power, boost, the M40 reverb and you can even toggle the light of the big knob.

T.C.s reverbs are one of the best out there. The included M40 runs as a plugin in your host sequencer and you can control it with the control panel also. It’s a TC reverb. It’s awesome.

So far the Desktop Konnekt 6 is the best small audio interface I have ever used. It’s compact, simple and provides superb sound quality at a low price ($199). If you want to record some instruments at home or sing along with yourself, this device is for you. I love it.

Here’s everything else you need to know.

Tech Specs

Monitor control

Big volume control

High resolution meter

Tracking reverb level control

Direct monitor control with input/DAW control

DIM switch for convenient speaker dimming

Instant scene recall

Separate headphone level control

IMPACT™ Mic preamp and I/O

IMPACT™ Mic preamp with 48v phantom power

Input configuration: mic + instr/instr+instr/stereo line

Balanced stereo outputs

True Hi-Z guitar inputs known from TC’s high-end guitar processors

Headphone out with separate level control and separate source

M40 Studio Reverb powered by AlgoFlex™

Studio sound reverb based on hardware technology

Hall, Room and Plate algorithms

Powered by AlgoFlex™ – a new high definition TC technology that enables hardware quality and predictability to be ported to native software.